selfish, rude, and ungrateful. Now that I was finally giving it to her, they were acting strange.
Wasn’t this what they had been pushing for all along?
After a long silence, it was Dad who finally spoke up. “Viola, you’ve really grown up. You’re being kind to your sister, looking out for her now.”
“Should’ve been like this from the start,” Mom chimed in. “We’re family. What’s yours is ours. No need to draw a line so firmly everywhere.”
“It’s good to see you two getting along. Your mother and I are relieved,” Dad added with a smile.
But were they really relieved? Did they honestly think Jane was capable of managing all that wealth?
At home, she fooled everyone with her fake kindness. But out in the world, no one would buy it.
I felt a tickle in my nose. When I rubbed it, my fingers came away smeared with blood.
“Why the nosebleed? The humidity in this room is perfectly fine,” Mom murmured, handing me a tissue.
I wiped the blood away casually, then tested the waters. “Mom, Dad… if I died one day, would you be sad?”
There was a pause, a heavy silence in the room.
Dad looked at me with a serious expression, his voice sharp. “Viola, don’t play these tricks. Don’t pretend to be sick just to get sympathy.”
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Your wolf may not be the strongest, but this is just a small problem that can be easily cured. Don’t try to pull stunts like this in front of us again.”
The room, which had been peaceful just moments ago, suddenly felt heavy again with Dad’s words.
I smiled bitterly.
What wolf? My wolf had already died while fighting off the Silverthorn Wolfsbane. That toxin, laced with silver, had seeped into my bloodstream and eventually corroded my organs.
And in the end, it killed my wolf.
“Dad, I know Viola lied before, acted out, and pretended to be sick. But that was the old her. I believe she’s better now,” Jane said, looking at me with a sharp, taunting look. She sounded like she was defending me, but all I could hear was her reminding everyone of my past mistakes.
“Alright, just don’t mess up again. Look at you—so full of life,” Dad muttered, then turned to Jane with undisguised tenderness. “Meanwhile, Jane’s the one who really needs care.”
His voice dropped, heavy with concern. “This illness… her healing factor’s almost nonexistent now.”
“I think Aunt Jane needs more love and care,” Mark said, leaning over the bed. “Please get better soon, Aunt Jane!”
I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and all the small hope I had left was crushed.
I wiped away the tears that had started to fall, then looked at Mark and said, “You said your Aunt Jane is the best, right? Do you want her to be your mommy instead?”
I smiled and said, “I’ve decided. From now on, Jane will be your mommy. Are you happy?”
Mark’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really. Jane can stay with you from now on. She can pick you up from kindergarten and cook you better meals than I ever could. How does that sound? Aren’t you happy?”
Before I could say more, Mark grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “I’m so happy, Mommy. You’re the best!”
Then, without a second thought, he rushed to Jane’s bedside and called out, “Mommy!”
The pain in my chest was unbearable.
It had been so long since my son had shown me any affection. I couldn’t even remember the last time he held my hand, or kissed the back of my hand like that.
And the price for all of that was letting him call someone else “Mommy”.
My parents and Leo watched the scene with smiles on their faces, pleased.
